As a kid, Cindy Thomas dreamed of one day owning a house with a yard. She had always lived in apartments with her mother, Francine Pisani, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia soon after Cindy was born. “I really can’t imagine what that must have been like for her,” Cindy says. “She worked really hard…

While people often choose a plant for its attractive foliage or ability to flower, its texture can be another attractive trait. For arid gardens throughout the Southwest, look no further than New Mexico false yucca (Hesperaloe funifera) to add spiky texture. This member of the agave family adds…